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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: FLAHL on August 26, 2017, 07:52:51 AM
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We had a 7-7 tie with 25 seconds left in the game. B called TO and had one remaining. A was facing 3rd and 8 from their own 15. During the TO, the HL told me that B's coach intended to fair catch the punt and attempt a free kick! A threw deep on 3rd down and B intercepted, so there was no punt, no fair catch, and no free kick.
Still had a great opener. 14-13 in OT.
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You were closer to having THE play than most of us have ever been or are ever likely to be. So close, yet so far away!
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A reminder caution. After a Fair Catch, a has the option to start play with a snap, or free kick. Should A choose a snap, and run a play in which B fouls (live ball) A retains the option to put the ball in play, after enforcement of the penalty, by either free kick or snap, from the succeeding spot which might well be a lot more attractive for trying a Field goal.
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5 or 6 years ago a playoff game. Last 20 seconds or so of first half. 4th and long on about their own 15. B calls timeout after the 3rd down stop. Coach is having his conference on the field screaming at his guys, putting them in position telling them to fair catch. I look at the coach and say, "so you're gonna fair catch." He yells, "You betcha, everyone of these suckers is gonna fair catch and then we're gonna kick." I smile and think here we go. As A's coach breaks the huddle last thing he tells his kicker, smiles and calmly says, "remember, just kick it out of bounds."
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5 or 6 years ago a playoff game. Last 20 seconds or so of first half. 4th and long on about their own 15. B calls timeout after the 3rd down stop. Coach is having his conference on the field screaming at his guys, putting them in position telling them to fair catch. I look at the coach and say, "so you're gonna fair catch." He yells, "You betcha, everyone of these suckers is gonna fair catch and then we're gonna kick." I smile and think here we go. As A's coach breaks the huddle last thing he tells his kicker, smiles and calmly says, "remember, just kick it out of bounds."
+1 to A's coach, whoever he might be.
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As a fan, I got as far as seeing a team actually declare for the fair catch kick and actually line up to do so. This was at the end of the first half. But then they had second thoughts -- it would have been a 60 yard attempt -- and changed their mind. They took the delay of game penalty and then sent the offense out and ran a scrimmage play to end the half.
Before the fair catch -- with A punting from their own goal line -- I was yelling from the stands for B to fair catch it. And, of course, the people sitting near me where looking at me strange wondering why someone would be rooting for a fair catch. Then they saw -- well, they almost saw.